Petroleum-treating apparatus



. Nov; 9,' 192e .A M6248 J.: W. LEWIS 'PETROLEUM' TREATNG APPARATUS originalv Filed Apri-'1 V19, 191'7' 2 Nov; 9 11926 `l'.,248 JA w..LEwls PETROLEUM T'REAT'ING` APPARATUS original Filed April 192 1917 2 sheefs-sneet .2

ww @NM Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

JOSEPH W. LEWIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T THE ATLANTIC REFINING COMPANY, PENNSYLVANIA.'

OF PHILADELPHIA, IPElfTNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PETROLEUM-TREATING APPARATUS.

Original applicationv led April 19, 1917, Serial o.

163,171. Divided and this application :tiled April 3,

1919. Serial No. 287,178.

`My invention relates to Vapparatus for treating petroleum, petroleum distillate or petroleum residuum in any suitable way for obtaining petroleum. products in general,

and particularly for producing light hydroa suitable furnace. in which is disposed heat absorbing oil containing structure, preferably tube connected drums, having oil connections to the still structure.

My invention resides in oil treating still structure with which is associated a condenser for oil vapors, said condenser preferably air cooled and disposed upon the still structure and having run'back connections f 1 D? and the tubes 8 are the bales 16, Fig` 2,

to the still.

My invention resides in oil treating apparatus of the character hereinafter described.

rThis application is a division from my application-Serial Number 163,171, tiled April. 19, 1917.

For an'illustrationof one of various forms 'my invention may take, reference is had to the 'accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l1 is a slide elevational view, partly in section, of still structure and associated condenser.

Fig'. 1a is a fragmentary plan view of oil connections between a drum and the still.

Fig'.v l2 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating heat transfer structure.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View, on enlarged scale,"of the upper end of the still and asso` ciated condenser.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View, lon enlarged scale, of the upper end of the still and part of the condenser structure.

Referring to Fig. 1, S is a vertical still of boiler plate, provided with the manholes 1,'1 near its bottom land top. The o'il to be treated is pumped into the still through the pipe 2 until it reaches the top of the pipe 3l within the still, which serves to indicate when the proper level has been reached by overiiow through the pipe 3 and its control valve 4, appearance of oilat the outer and, lower orifice of the pipe 3V indicating that the proper level is reached, whereupon the Valve 4 is dlosed. l

Within the brickwork structure 5 are dis- ?)osed the upper and lower cylindrical drums and D1, each connected at its one end by pipes 6 and 7, see Fig. l, with the interior ofthe still 3, the pipes 6 and 7 of each pair connecting to opposite sides of the still.

The drums D, D1 are connected by the numerous substantially vertical metal tubes 8, as indicated in Figs.. 1 and 2.

The chamber containing the drums .and

their connecting tubes communicates through the opening 9 with the .firebox or chamber 10 in which is disposed the grate 11 on to which fuel is delivered from the chute 12 through the hopper or Stoker 13, the ashes falling into the pit 14 and 'delivered therefrom to ash-removing cars 15.

In the chamber containing the drums D,

with the. resultthat the hotgases pass frm the irebox orchamber 10 through the opening 9, andbetw'een and Varound theupper parts of the tubes 8 and the drum D and pass downwardly in contact with the lower parts of the tubes 8 and the drum D1 and' thence into the iiue passages 17, 17, Fig. 2,

which communicate with a stack-or chimney,

not shown, which maybe common to several stills. Communicating with the interior of the chamber containing the drums andtubes is a stack 18` having lthe closing cover-19, which latter may be moved to open position to' allow escape of 'hot gases from the chamber, either in a measure to control the teml perature to which the tubes 8 and drums D, D1 are subjected, or rapidly tocool the chamber at the end of a run.

At the upper end of the still S is the vapor outlet pipe 20. Figs. 1 and 4, communicat.-

ing through valve 21 with the sweat out line or pipe 22, and with the pipe 23 leading to lthe safetyvalve 24 whose discharge side communicates with the vertically extending pipe 25. The main vapor line 20 communicates also throu'gh the valve 26 with the upwardly and then downwardly extending vapor line or pipe 27 which communicates with the initial manifold or header 28 cdmmunicating with the three transversely eX- tending initial header pipes 29 with whiel' communicate the numerous small vertically ext-.ending pipes connected 'in various groups through the top connecting pipes 31 wi h thenumerous small downwardly eX- tending pipes 32 communicating with the transverse terminal header pipes 33 which all communicate with the terminal header ,or manifold 34. The numerous pipes 30 and 32, and associated connections, are housed within'the structure 35'open at its bottom and having at its top an open-work cover 36 of wire mesh orthe like.

These pipes 30, 32 and their' connections constitute means for preliminarilyl cooling the vapors rising from the still S and constitute the preliminary air cooled condenser, the cooling air entering at the bottom of the housing and passing upwardly between the tubes 30, 32 and out through the openwork cover 36.

From transverse header Apipes 29 and 33.

extend downwardly the several pipes 37, Figs. 1 and 3, which communicate at their lower end with a pipe 38 with which isconnected the riser pipe 39 controlled by valve 40 and communicating with the interior of the still S at its top, this piping structure constituting a runback whereby there are returned into the still S those heavy oils whose vapors have been condensed in the air condenser and whichhave been only partially, Vif at all, subjected to the'desired treatment.

Referring now-more particularly to Fig. 3, there is connected with the header 34 of the air condenser a pipe 41, to which is con nected the tell-tale pipe 42 controlled by Valve 43, communicatingthrou h the valve 44 and the pipe 45 with the inta e of the reducing valve 46 whose outlet communicates through the pipe 47 and the valve 48 with the vapor line or pipe 49. The pipes 41 and 49 are-also connected through the normally closed by-pass valve 50.

The pressure-reducing means may be of any suitable type, a Watson reducing valve having been found satisfactory in operation.

A pressure gauge 69 is connected by,A pipe 66 with the pipe 41 through the hand operated valve 68 and also through the hand operated valve 67 with a chamber of the control mechanism of the reducing valve 46.

The operation is as follows:

The oil to be treated is charged into the still S to. a level corresponding to the upper end of the pipe 3', the drums D and D1 and their connecting .pipes being simultaneously charged by oil risingthrough the lower connecting pipes 6 and 7 into the drum D1 and thence rising through the i're tubes 8 into and filling the drum D and its pipes 6 and 7 connecting at a higher level with the still S.

The valves 26,'40 and 50 are closed. Fire is started in the furnace chamber 10 and the charged oil gradually raised in temperature, the valve 21 in the sweat-out line 22 being porized into steam and passes 0H through the pipe 20. valve 21 and sweat-out line 22 to a slop tank, not shown. After the water has so been 'driven off, the valves 26 and 40 are open, and valve 21 closed.

The firing is continued and the temperature of theoil in the still increases, the pressure within the still simultaneously increas ing until suitable magnitude of pressure is reached for which the reducing valve 46 is set; thereuponthe valve 46 allows escape of vapors from pipe 45 to the pipe 49, valves 44 and 48 being open. The vapors of heavy oils which may pass from the still S to the air condenser are therein condensed and returned to the still S through the runback connections 37 and 39 through the now open valve 40.

The lighter vapors lof the desired products are not condensed in the air condenser, but pass ofi through the reducing valve- 46 and pipe 49 to a main or water cooled condenser, not shown, or-to any other suitable'device or desired destination.

The firing is continued until the oil in the still S has been reduced to a residuum ofv suitable or desired percentage of the volume of the original charge. To determine when this stage ,is reached, the valve 101, Fig. 1, is opened from time to time, and when for the first time vapor is ter cooled pipe coil 102 through its outlet 103, it is known thatthe charge has been sufliciently4 reduced and has reached a level corresponding `with the upper end of the pipe 104 communicating through .the valve 101 with the coil 102. y

At the end of a run the fire is withdrawn,

the reducing valve 46v is luy-passed by closing' valves 44 and 48 and opening valve 50, whereupon the gas and vapor contents of the still pass therefrom through the air condenser', thence through the valve 50 to the vapor pipe or line 49, and led to a suitable condenser or other desired destination.

Nhen the pressure in the still has 'been entirely .reduced or released, the residuum in the still S is pumped out. To freethe still of vapors and gases before entry of cleaners, steam is. admitted through pipes 109, 110,

111 and 112, Fig. 1, each controlledby a valve 113. Valve 21 is ope-ned to allow escape of vapors and gases driven out bythe entering steam through sweat-out line 22.

After the removal of residuum andthe.

blowing off of vapors and gases as above described, the still S may be entered through either manhole 1, and any deposits therein. as of coke or carbonaceous material, removed throughthe lower m'anhead 1. Similarly, the drums D, D1 may be entered through the manholes d and all and similarly cleaned delivered through the Wa' llli ofv carbonaceous material or -coke. Deposits of `carbo'naceous material orcoke within the re'tubes 8 may be removed by devices similar to boiler tube cleaners.

-What I claim is 1.A Pressure still structure comprising a pluralit of substantially horizontal drums dispose at different levels, a plurality of 'tubes connecting said drums', a heating chamber in Which'said drums and tubes are 'dis'posed, a stilloutside of said heating chamberextending from adjacent a lowerof said drums to -andumaterially above an upper of said drums, circulating connections said still.

between said lower and upper drums and said still, and a vapor discharge line connecting with said still above the liquid llevel therein.

2. Pressure still'stru'cture` comprising a pluralityI of substantially horizontal drums disposed at different levels,a plurality of tubes connecting said drums, a heating chamber in which vsaidv drums and tubes are disposed, Ya still outside of said heating.

chamber Vextending from adjacent a lower of said .drums to and materially above an upper of said drums, circulating connections between said lower and upper drumsand said still, a vapor discharge line connecting with said still above the liquid level therein',

and means for charging oil tobe'treated into 3.\"-Petroleum cracking apparatus comprising a'heating chamber, a still outside of said heating'chamber, -drums in said heating chamber,substantially vertical tubes in4 said chamber and connecting said drums, and

branched oilcirculating connections between each of said drums and said still.

4. Petroleum cracking apparatus comprising a heating chamber, a vertical still disposed -outside of said chamber, drums in said chamber, substantially vertical tubes in said chamber connecting said drums, and branched oil circulating connections betwe each of said drumsvand said still, Athe connections from said drums connecting with said still at different heights. ,I 5. Petroleum cracking apparatus comprisingavertical still, and` separate means for ing connections, -whereby l ingy a vertical still, and separate means for communicating .heat to the" petroleum and causing circulation thereof comprising drums disposed at d iiferent levels and having circulating connections with the interior of said still, the uppermost of said connectionsconnecting with said still at a level materially below thetopof said still, a plurality of tubes connecting said drums and constituting a part of the circulatory system, ahousing separate from said still for said drums and tubes, and means within "said housing for imparting heat to'. said tubes.

7. Petroleum cracking apparatus compris-- ing a vertical still, and separate meansfor communicating heat' to the petroleum and causing circulation thereofcomprising drums disposed -at different levels'iand branchedcirculating connections betweenA each of said drums and the interior of said still, the uppermost of said connections connecting'with said still at a level materially below the top of said still, a-plurality of tubes connecting said drums and constituting a part'of the lcirculatory system, a housing separate from said still for said Vdrums and tubes, and means within said housing forfimparting heat to said tubes.

8.'Pressure still apparatus for treatmnt of petroleum comprising a vertical still,

heat transferstructure separate therefromv and having circulating connections -therewith, said still extending substantially higher than the uppermost pf said circulatsaid heat transfer structure is completely fi still to a level materially above said uppermost circulating connection is filled with` the oil under treatment, a vapor outlet from said still above the uppermost of said cired and vsaid vertical' culating connections, and vmeans for maintaining the petroleum in said separate heat transfenvstructure under pressure comprising a valve restricting the discharge of vapor from said still through said vapor outlet.`

,'9. Pressurel still apparatus for treatment of petroleum -comprising a vertical still,

heat transfer structure separate 'therefrom and havlng circulating Vconnections there- With, said still extendlng substantially high-- 1 er than the vuppermost of said circulating connectlons, a condenser surmounting said still and having a vapor connection therewith, a runback connection from said conlao denser' to saidstill separate from said vapor connection, and means for maintaining the petroleum in said separate heat @transfer structure under pressure comprising a valve restricting discharge from-the outlet from said condenser. l

l0. Petroleum l.treating apparatus com.- prising a vertical still', an air-cooled condenser disposed directly above the upper end ,i

of said still, a Vapor connection from said still to said condenser, a vapor outlet connection from said condenser. descending-ascending runback connections from sa1d condenser into said still, and means for maintaining pressure upon the apparatus.

11. Petroleum treating apparatus comprisin'ga'l vertical still, an air-cooled,conden-v vser disposed directly above the upper end of said still, a Vapor connection from said still. to said condenser, a vapor outlet connection from said condenser.y and avalve restrictingflow of vapor from' said condenser,

whereby the vapor in said condenser and prising a vertical still, an air-cooled condenser disposed above the upper end of said still, a vapor connection from said still to said condenser, a vapor outlet connection from saidcondenser, a pressure reducing valve controlling lsaid outlet connection, valve structure for by-passing said reducing valve, a valve controlled runback from said condenser into said still, and connections for blowing steam into said still. i

14. Petroleum treating lapparatus comprising a vertical still, an air-cooled condenser, a vapor connection from said still to said condenser, a vapor outlet connection from said condenser, a pressure reducing valve controlling said outlet connection, valve structure for 1.oy-passing said reducing valve, a valve controlled runback lfrom said condenser into said still, and a valve controlled sweat-out line connecting with said stilli 15. Petroleum treating .apparatus comprising a vertical still whose height is several times its diameter, heat transferlstructure separate from Asaid still, means for maintaining the oil in said structureunder pressure` connections from said structure to said still one of which is adjacent the bottom of said still and another at a substantially higher level materially below the upper end ot" said still, and a vapor outlet-v at a level above said other connection.

v16. Petroleum cracking apparatus comprising a vertical still whosel height is several times its diameter; means for delivering heat tothe charge comprising connections adjacent thebottom of said still and at a substantially higher level materially below the upper end of said still, a vapor outlet at a level above said higher level, andl means for maintaining in said still a pressure materially above atmospheric pressure.

17. Petroleum cracking apparatus comprising a vertical still Whose height is several times its diameter, means for delivering' heat to the charge comprising connections adjacent the bottom ot said still and at a Vsubstantially higher level materially times its diameter disposed outside of said heating chamber, drums disposed at dit-A terent heights in said heating chamber, tubes in said chamber connecting said drums, and oil circulation connections between said drums and said still, said still having a vapor space whose lower limit is above the uppermost of said drums.

19. Apparatus for cracking petroleum under pressure, comprising a heating chamber, a still having a height several vtimes its diameter disposed outside of said heating chamber, drums at different levels in said heating chamber, la plurality of tubes connecting said drums, and circulating connections between said drums and said still at different levels, the loil partaking of' natural circulation through said still, drums and tubes due to temperature eiects, said still havinga vapor space whose lower limit is above the uppermost of said vconnections.-

20. Apparatus for' cracking petroleum under pressure, comprising a ivertical still having a height several times its" diameter, heat transfer structure for imparting heat to the oil comprising drums at y diderent levels,- the interior of each of said drums being unrestricted to form a single compartment, a plurality of tubes connecting vsaid drums, and connections from 'said drums to said still at different levels, said still extending -materially' above the uppermost of said connections, the oil always passing in the same direction from a lower drum through the tubes to an upper drum, and from said upper drum to said still Abefore return to said lower drum. y

21. Apparatus for producing lighter from heavier hydrocarbon oil comprising a vertically extending chamber of large cross section for confining a column of oil, means for passing oil in a lurality of streams of small ycross section rom said column back to said column at a higher submerged level thereof, said column having great vertical lllll extent. above .saidhigher' submerged level,-

means forapplying heat to said streams atl 22. Apparatus for producing lighter from heavier hydrocarbon oil comprising a' vertically lextending chamber of large cross section for confining a column of oil, means for passing oil in :a plurality kof streams'o'r.

' ing on the exterior thereof, said still chamsmall cross section from saidcolumn back to said column at a higher submerged level thereof, said column having great vertical vextent above said higher submerged level,v means for applying heat to said streams at a rate to effect cracking of the oil in a zone from which said column of oil is isolated, means for maintaining4 the oil under superatmospheric pressure, and meansfor drawin oil' the products at the upper end of said.

co umn.

28. Pressure still structure vcomprising a' housing vfor oil-heating structure, a still chamber entirely separate 'from said housber containing a vmass of liquid oil disposed in a single body, oil-heating structure disposed entirelyA within said housing and comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal chamber structures disposed' at different levelswithin said housing and throughout each of which the oil is of substantially uniform composition, circulating connections extending from upper and lower chamber structures, respectively, to the body of oil in said stillchamber, and a plurality of tubes connecting said chamber ber structures, tubesand connections constituting a path through which the oil is repeatedly circulated from the body of oil in said still chamber lthrough the lower ofsaid connections, lower chamber structure, upwardly through all of said tubes, through the. upper of said chamber structures, and backto said body of oil in said still chamber, in the order named.

24. Pressure still structure comprising a housing for oil-heating structure, a still chamber entirely separate from said housing on the exterior thereof, said still chamber containing a mass of liquid oil disposed in asingle body, oil-heating structure disposed entirely within said housing and comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal chamber structures disposed one vertical* y ly above the other Within said housing and throughout each of which the oil is of substantially uniform composition, circulating connections` extending from upper and lower .chamber structures, respectively, to the body. of oil in said still chamber, and a plurality of substantially vertical tubes connecting said chamber structures within said housing,` tubes and connections constituting a path through which the oil is repeatedly circulated from the body of oil in said still chamber throuh the lower ofsaid connections, lower chamber structure, upwardly through all ofsaid tubes, through the upper saidv chamber structures,V

of said chamber structures, and back lto'said body of oil in der named.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed' my signature this 2d day of April, 1919.

said still chamber, in the or- JosEPH w. LEWIS 

